Author Archives: Tabitha

Jules Felix Philippe Albert de Dion
– Legends Sept 22, 2014

Overview

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Description

DeDion wanted to create his own cars and his first invention came about mainly as a result of a curiousity he has after seeing a model steam locomotive in a Paris toy shop. With his partners, he quickly became part of an engine empire from the first boilers and steam engines. At first, de Dion’s company patented a rear axle that improved the ride of vehicles, then produced a self-propelled steam vehicle in 1882.

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Overhaulit Part 39
It’s all in the trim

Overview

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Description

When someone wants to know whether a certain car they’ve found is a good candidate for restoration, I have just one question. How’s the trim? Is any of it missing? Is it pitted and rotted and rusting?
I guess that’s three questions, really, but you would be surprised by how many people think they’re money ahead buying a shell of a car for a few thousand less than a car with all its trim intact.

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Overhaulit Part 40
Block party

Overview

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Description

Our engine-building fun begins with . . . a cop car.
It’s doubtful that the engine from the ex-Ford cop car even saw it coming. But, what are we up to with it? You might recall that senior editor Malcolm Gunn was beating his forehead into the boardroom table over my expensive obsession with making things go faster and sound louder. But it looks like a killer piece, too, with its wide welded-sheetmetal valve covers, aluminum cylinder heads and no-nonsense black cylinder block. Add a carbon-fiber air box and suddenly senior editor Gunn is seeing the light instead of pounding his head on the desk.

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Overhaulit Part 41
Getting some seat time

Overview

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Description

So, our interior is in need of some serious help . . .
as in there isn’t any. It’s a blank canvas. We’ve mentioned many times about the ripple effect and how it can impact other parts, pieces and processes of a vehicle. Slightly widening the wheelwells to slide in bigger tires is enough work all on its own, but relocating trunk hinges – properly – is also part of the deal. And then there’s what’s going on inside the car.

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Overhaulit Part 42
Reality check

Overview

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Description

Honestly, it didn’t sound like a big deal at the beginning.
“Repaint it.” But not even a thorough inspection of a fiberglass car can reveal all the sins of past work or damage. The only time you’re safe is when you know the history of the car right back to the original owner, or, more pointedly, you are the original owner. Neither applied to us.

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Overhaulit Part 43
In over our heads?

Overview

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Description

Hopefully, we’ve done enough to the rest of the car to keep up with the engine. I wouldn’t say that I’m bored with dyno testing, but when you have for years been dealing with an engine builder who can predict power output to within a few percentage points every time, a trip to the dyno room is little more than verification that we didn’t screw up.

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Overhaulit Part 44
Retro twist

Overview

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Description

We drive 18 hours to find new seats that we want to make look old. We want a classic-car interior that looks classic and therefore stands the test of time. Is that really too much to ask? For me, there’s very little that dates an interior like the electronics. And when you’re making an all-new interior for a classic muscle car like our 1970 Plymouth, we have to be very conscious about that because putting in today’s latest-and-greatest – even new seats – will only serve to make the car look dated in a very short time.

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Overhaulit Part 45
Seat time

Overview

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Description

How do you knock off a whole restoration? The same way you eat an elephant . . . one bite at a time.
When a project seems too big to start, let alone complete, it’s best to just begin. Before you know it, bite by bite, you’re done.

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2016 Cadillac CTS-V
AutoGraph Sept 15, 2014

AutoGraph

Use: Media professionals demanding top-quality automotive content for their print products and/or Web sites. Professional artwork, editing.

What it is: Weekly automotive infographics that inform, enlighten and delight readers. Our high-impact infographics add visual appeal and variety to your auto-section pages. Wheelbase’s designers are some of the best in the business with numerous awards for dynamic newsgraphics and page design. AutoGraph will show your readers, with engaging visual style, what they want and need to know about their automobiles as well as today’s trends. These professional, useful and intelligent graphics will help raise the profile of your auto section.

Product specifications

Designed by Wheelbase Media’s editorial staff using Macromedia Freehand (for backward compatibility for most systems) as well as Adobe Photoshop.
Mac or PC use.
Files included in your download: native Freehand file; Freehand EPS file (which is how to edit the AutoGraph with Adobe Illustrator) and a 300 dpi CMYK low-compression jpg file.
Print size: 8 inches wide, 6 inches tall, scalable about 10 percent up or down.
AutoGraph uses typical system fonts for compatibility.

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Overhaulit Part 46
Where the heck did we get carbon fiber?

Overview

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Description

Where anyone finds anything cool these days, of course. Ebay. Cruising Ebay for ideas eventually landed me on an page full of auctions for NASCAR style carbon-fiber airboxes. Whoa. Could one be made to work?